What happened to Jessica Simpson?

Jessica Simpson

Okay, I'm not a big fan of Jessica Simpson. But my wife is "addicted" to pop idols and so when JSimpson is on TV, it's likely to be on in our house.
We both have a question that has been bugging us for a while now and was only reinforced after watching Nick and Jessica's TV special the other night.
When did she stop singing and start the vocal gymnastics? And what's up with the arm gestures and facial contortions?
She DOES have a good voice, though it is hard to tell from the way she presents songs now.
Am I just showing my age and that's the way things are done now?
Alicia Keys and Nora Jones don't seem to be afflicted with this disorder. Christina Aguilera shows signs of getting over it, too. One can only hope...